OREANDA-NEWS. Union Pacific Railroad will commence the historic move of Big Boy No. 4014 to Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet Operations headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Sunday, January 26. The 1.2 million pound steam locomotive is set to enter the national rail network for the first time in 52 years. Towed by modern diesel-electric Union Pacific freight locomotives, No. 4014 will depart Fairplex, home of the L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif., and travel 56 miles on Metrolink and Union Pacific track to the Union Pacific rail yard in Colton, Calif. A member of Union Pacific's Train Town USA Registry, the city of Colton is a fitting location for final preparations for No. 4014's 1,293-mile trek to Cheyenne.

"Union Pacific celebrates employees past and present with the restoration of one of the biggest steam locomotives ever constructed," said Ed Dickens, senior manager of Union Pacific Heritage Operations. "We appreciate the collaboration with Metrolink and Fairplex to make No. 4014's first move on the national rail network safe and efficient."

Union Pacific also will deliver UP diesel locomotive No. 3105, a Union Pacific caboose and a Union Pacific boxcar to RailGiants Train Museum located at Fairplex on January 26. This donated equipment will contribute to the preservation and documentation of railroading underway at the museum.

Final travel preparations will be made in Colton over the next few months before No. 4014 departs for Cheyenne. The public is invited to view Big Boy No. 4014 in Colton yard on February 1-2, and 8-9, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All visitors should access the rail yard at 19100 Slover Ave., Bloomington, Calif. Visitors will be permitted in the display area for No. 4014 only. There will be no other rail yard access.

Following a 17-year operating career, Union Pacific delivered No. 4014 to RailGiants Train Museum in January 1962. No. 4014 was one of 25 Big Boys built for Union Pacific and was used primarily for freight service on the transcontinental railroad route beginning in 1941. Union Pacific plans to restore the locomotive to operating condition over the next several years.